Derrick or tower construction



sept. 23, 1930. C. H. Basse 1,176,345

wrMM-m 23, 19,30. c. H. BESSE 1,776,345

-DERRICK 0R TOWER cousfrnuc'rm'n Filed May 11, 1927 2 Shoots-Sheet 2 Sme/nto@ v" arzssa,

y 'n Patented sepf; 23j/1,9301" i i Y Y v,curar!'r11.1isrzssn forrltse, OKLAHOMA;AssreNoR'rrofrHE nA'rIoNAL 'funiviaUomini` y 33 `v Amongst other desiderataof the invention 'there maybe mentionedthe provisionfofa This invention relates Eto improvements in derrickor'towe'rconstructiomhaving for an' object to iprovideeav leg coupling bracket lor 1' irono-that,generaltype exemplified infmy copending Unitedl States application for pat-p entgfSerial.- Number-`l73,685. of which,` theV Y, 1 present invention VAis aniimprovement -where` by y1a lmetal orsofcalled-steel derrick maybe re-leggedl that 2 the same-Yoan be vpracticably employedI 4for drilling, ,spudding or in-y like heavy duty operations., subsequently to which the! relegs :may lie-conveniently and quickly f removed, ithusleavingstanding; a light` steel yf fy-derrick.suitableforipumpingrpurposes; .the

j x-salvaged relegs being capable of usage in cony Y nectionlzwitlr other'construction work.r

` lThe*inventionmay bealso stated to com? f1 prehend. afbracket orzfiron ofthe character mentioned formed in Aa single-piece-and feovadapted 'to have the adjacentportions ofther iglegsV of a derrick;longitudinally introduced Y, Y thereinto, whereupon the legsand the bracketv jY arefpositively VandLiXedly interconnected through. the :medium y of connectingbolts ,en-

. gaging throughfportions of said f legs and Y bracketsv inra manner toabsolutelyjprevent airy-attempts at longitudinal shifting or creeping therebetween land also, to *preventl any and. all possibility olongitudinal shift-` l `3o ingfor disengagement of said bolts from the brackethence,.insuring'a permanent andeii#v cient coupling between -thelderrick legsec-y tions and thereby, lending tothe stability of ythe-derrickconstruction;v l

j f. derrick or tower leg coupling bracketcombinx 7ingin afsinglev andvintegral construction, means for i positively and rigidly n' intercon- '4e' necting the leg sections andmeans for receivd ing/and facilitating?` the rigid securingy or clampingl oil r'elegs tothe derrickf'legs,` to-y 'getherf with still other: A'means' permitting of ftheconnectionjoiifthe*usual'trussinglor ten-A 'sioning' devices' thereto, vwhereby all' of the derrick-V legsare Vinter-bracedwith respect to each other. It is-also'ianob] ectof theinvenl j*tiontoiprovidela coupling bracket havingr web-,like tension device feng'agingiplates inte- 550 gral with lthe bracketfrproper and vintegral A and relegs. y ,l l

f Other objects of the inventionwill `be in` part obvious andin part pointed out' hereinl poniainici;,conservir,` or TULSA, omeenemen A oonrone'rron oroKLAHoMA f nnnnicnon '.rcliwnn CONSTRUCTION y1927', .serial Nq. ,190,6011'" fcradledike extensions or'armsadjacent por- A tionsof theplates' and brackets whereby to receive portions of relegs therein, said relegs,

because of the disposition of' the cradlel like extensionsjbeing varranged longitudinally of and vbetween the extensionplates and in subf stantiallyparallelism to the derrick legs Vso that with secure clamping of the relegs to the' i cradle like extensions, a positive andv rigidconnection will beieefectedbetween the'leg's after.` i,

i v In ordertliat the invention and itsmode of operation may be readily understood by those skilled in the art, I have inthe accompanying illustrative drawing and in the ydetailedfollowing description based thereupon, set out one possible embodimentof the in* vention.

Inj'these drawings; n n v Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved couplingbracket showing the samein sponding' parts throughout, the improved bracket may be stated to comprise a tubular leg receiving body portion designated by the numeral lhaving relatively right angularly `arrangedtension deviceor truss engaging plates'Q cast integraly with0 portions of the same and disposed longitudinallythereof, said plates having a plurality 'of tension or truss device engaging openings` 3 `formed therein., w v

v kIr'itegrallycast or otherwise formed with l UU the bodyportionl and the rightfangularly arranged plates2 is a pair of cradlelile extensions or arms 4,*these arms as willbernoted, being positioned adjacent the Aopposite exti'einities of the body portion 1 andthe said plates 2,. portions lori' the arms c,or'istituting longitudinaliextensions of the right'angularly opposed plates 2as isshown inthe Figures 1.andr2. These" arnisll are 'provided upon'their inner sidesfwithfcradle like em#Y bracingV portions V5 disposed transversely of tended longitudinally'of the body 1 and the' 2O A o v 1 f n with the improved coupling bracket be positiyely'secured against longitudinal shiftplates 2 in proximity allelism tosaidbody 1. l. Y vThat'A the derriclrleg sections r"'equipped i ing jor creeping inthe body 1 subsequently Vto thei-rflongitudinal introduction thereinto,

theoppositey ends oi" kthe said kbody are, flanged as indicated by the numeral 8 while l diametricallyopposed'longitudinally extend` ing'poclets or Vrecesses 9 areioimed-in the oppositeends of the body land the adjacent portions ofthe respective flanges. 8 thereon:

these yflanges being formed with vintegralf web-lilrefextensions-10 which are integral withv portionsv of 'the outer sides ofthe arms et ad)acont` their points ofi ]ointure with the opposite en dsfoifthe right angelarlyv opposed Y plates 2, hence, effecting an integral bracing means as between the body po'rtionfand the' plates 2l and the armed.`

V[Goiinecti'ng bolts -11 are adapted yto be` pas'sse/d y, thro-ugh'. diametrically f arranged openings inthe adjacent or abutting endsof thelf-zg'A sections 7 andreceiveupon'the op posits extremities thereofbeyond the adey jacent portions of the outer peripheral surfaceso'f said'legs, washers orsiniilafr bearingdeyices 12', the inner sidesof which are conceived or fare curved. as indicatedjby the i numeral 13,*this concayityor curving corre- V,engaged"portionsof the body 1;'1

spending to the curvature. of the outer pe-Y ripheral surfacey 'of .the body "1 adapted to receive the leg sections 7 therein. Locking nuts 14S are a'daptedto beengaged with thea-crew threaded extremities of the several connecting bolts 14 and thereby,with turi ng and tighteningof sai'dnuts upon" their respective bolts, a` binding Vandclaniping connection will be VAlso, it is to4 befnoted that depth of theinwardly disposedpoclrets),

tlieiconneotingbolts 11 will be so arranged'as'- toperinit of the abutting engagement of the boltcarried-washersf13'with the. inner sides of their longitudinally' opposed flanges 8,' lience,preventiiig any ,possibility oi" lon substantially parV establishedfbetweentlie washers 13 andtljie gitudinal-disengageineiitof'the bolts 11 from Y sequently, positively anchoring or Vconnecting the abutting oi meeting ends of the deriicl leg sections'iii said bodyportioii 1.

"lli/'ith a. View` toward providing' `the coui f 911332 desig- Dated by the iiilnfieii'al15; aropifovlded: the

. curvature 'of thesebolts corresponding lto'fthe peripheral surface" oi` said'relegs (y so lthat a snuggengagement between the-same will be insured; the extremities of thel lll-shaped; bolts being adaptedto be receivedthroughhopen ings 'formed @ingthe oppositeextremities oi:v

'-tlie'arms'il allg ing with grooves 16 disposed l Y longitudinallyiof the eXtrem-ities.ofthe-cradle lile'pnortionsv 5 oit sa-idarms liS shown 'in the `Eigure` 2.v Following this engagement, 'lockingV nuts lfare turned into;engagementl with the screw threaded extremities ofthe Ueshaped bolts and 5preferabliy,YhaveV bear-` ing upon w-ashersorsimilar devices/18 inter-`V posedfbetween the same'andrfthe! adjacent faces o'i the 'opposite endsofltlie arinsA."y By v A turningthesevloclring nuts y17: to th l "desired"v degreefupjon thescrew. threadediextreniitiesk of the Ulshape'd bolts 15,1115 will beunderstood v the pockets 9 o the body portion 1 and con'- Y pling bracket with means forsecu'ring the re-` g legs G thereto, i. e., tothe integral armsl and K between :th e right angularly` opposed plates 2, `substantially Ul-shaped clamping that the adjacent portionsfof thelreleg will be -clampingly secured inthe cradle like portions 5 ofthe arms t and that inasmuch A`alsthe rele-p; is disposedbetween and longitudinally of the plates 2 andv in p'a-rallelisnifto"the body 'portionL 'apositive and rigid interconnec` I tion will be e'liiecte'd'between Vthereleg 6? and thelegs 7, hence, permitting thelattertobe eflectua-lly braced fand strengt-honedfv by ythe yformer..k y l l .i Y Y i 1 In usingir'in'y improved coupling bracket,

the'body portion 1 is arranged ina iosition lto befjlirst longitudinally. engaged over the, upper end ofthe lower leg section 7 preparatory to which abonnectiiig bolt 11 together. with the wa`shersk'12 anda loclii'ngnut lllk have been" i y properly engaged and assembled. At this Y time, the bracket is dropped so that the open lower end of body tliereOlWill-engage over the upper lend oii'saiddowerleg section@ f whereupon 'the diametrically arranged lconf nectingvbolt' 11 will enter thecorresponding j ly arrangedl pockets 9 forn'iedyupoii'tlie lower nut 1410i the. connecting bolt '11 Aisftightened so as-V to'effect, a' clam'pingoi1 the 'relatively' fi iu.

endior said body portion 1`,'stopp ing*onlyy 'whensaid boltfengagediwitli tlieiiiner ends l of the.: pockets 9:2 Atthisftinie, the-lockinV spaced washers "12 ',upon .adjacentportionsf of i.

the peripheral surface of the bodyl 1 itibeing' 'I notedthatincidentaltoisuch tightening oi y the lockingnut 14,* the lower marginal por-v,VV tion'ofeachiof the kwashers 12 will be brought 'n into abutting engagement with the yadj acont side ofthe lo'wermostaflange 8, vthereby perf reg,

t'er'l'o'cl` thebodyjportioii "lliiandf the lower! ctioi'if Y.' f The lower *end loi-` tli'e upper .legsection 7- is'now equippedwith a"co`n'nect- .ingfbolt-ill,fwashers ,121 ,and a?v locking nut 14, whereupon said'sectiongis dropped sothat Y, its*boltj.equippecblo'wer' end willengage in thefdianietrically opposed pockets 9 formed in-tli'eufpper end ofthe body portion l', the

extent voithis engagement being limited by lthe abuttingof adjacent portions of said bolt Y Y 'l1 uponthe'inner yends of the vpockets 9. At

thistime, the lower end ofy the upperderricli legY section 7 will have been longitudinally `introduced into the body portion l and to secure the same againstdisplaceiiient,tlie loching nut lll-isturned in a direction to'tighten j the same, thereby movingrth'e washers 12inwardlywitli respect to said` body portion l and'iinally, clampingly engaging said wash- :ers l2 with the adjacent portions of the" pefK4 .ripheralsurface oi thebody las well as eiiecting an abutting engagement of the upper marginal portions oi` eaeho'i said washers ywith the adjacent inner sides of the uppermost'iiange 8,' thereby closing the youter ends of' the pockets 9 `and consequently thereupon, eiiectingfa positive interlock v's betwe'en the at" lower 'end of the upper lleg section Z and the upperf'end; of theV body portionl.` This motivev operandi is completed until the `desired number 'of bracket insulations; have been made. vTo eiiect relegging of thederricltlegs 7 ,a relegsuch as indicated by thenuineral is snugly received in the cradle like portions 5 of the arms l, saidreleg yextending between and longitudinally of the plates 2 and in parvallelismv to the body portion l'.

U-shaped clamping boltsv l5' are now transversely engaged over the releg 6, the extremities thereof ypassing through the openings formed in the extremities of? the longitudinally opposed arms '4, whereupon locking nuts -17 lare yturned into engagement .therewith to eif-k ffect aclamping connection between said-armsl tv and the releg 6, Trusses or other tensioning devices maybe now engaged with the rightgangularly opposed' plates 2 through the openings 3v formed therein,V although itl will K' of coursebe understood that the trusses may be Vengaged with the `plates 2 either before 1 'or afterthe `clamping arrangement oii' the re- Vleg G'through the medium of the arms -l and bolts l5 tothe bodyporti'onla y f Subsequently to azdrilling or similar heavy `duty loperation lof the relegged derricky i equipped withtheimproved coupling bracket,

1 itgo'ffcourse willbe yundseistood thatthe relegs Gadjacent the vvarious deiricl: leg sections 7 may be and' are vadaptedtobe yremoved by disengagement ofthe clamping bolts l5 K Vfromthe''a'.pertured extremities ottliearms Il' r following which said relegs may be4 readily :disengaged from the coupling bracket, thus available for pumping purposes; the rec n'i'oved, equipment being. completely ysalvaged receiving kbody portion, havingsinii'ardly'disyleaving the'fli-'gliter derriclr stamping and i posed?` longitudinally "extending `pockets oijmedfin the opposite endsl thereof, means s carried on the' adjacent ends oi the 'lee seei n g Q a tions adaptedto have vertical interlocking engagement in said pockets, relatively angularlyarranged plates integral with and fdisposed/longitudinally of the body portionyand rele receiving arin'sarraneed transversal oi i C C the body` portion and integral Vtherewith and l with the opposite ends 'of said plates, saidV releg receivingarms being arranged in longitudinally opposed :relation betweenv said,

plates.

fderricl; leg s bracket rcomprising 'in'l coiiiibinationy with section'ald'erricli legs, 1 tubular 'body' portion, connecting means en- `n gaged with th'eadjacent ends o'll said derrick leg sections,adapted` to haveyertical slidable interlocking engagement with the opposite ends of saidbody portionandportions of said: legs being 'introducedlongitudinally of said body portion, relatively right angu- 3 larly arranged pla-tes integral with and disposed' longitudinally of the body i portion, transverselyidisposed releg receiving arms integral withthe body portion and with the opposite ends "of said plates, said' arms having certain of their` sides formed with cradle ylike receiving portions disposed' in longitudinally opposed', relation between said "ico plates, and'releg clamping means detachably `engageablewith portions 'oi' said arms.

- l 3.A'derriclr "leg bracket comprising iii combination with ,sectional dei-rick legs, 1a legjr'eceiving body vportion, connecting means on the adj acent ends of' the fderrick leg sections adapted, with longitudinal introduction of said ends into the `body portion to" effect an interlocking connectionl between said legs Zandsaid body portion, means on the vbody portion adapted Jfor connection y.with tensioning devices, and releg receivingmeans on thebody portion in longitudinally opposed relation. s s Qderrickr leg` bracket g comprising a j tubular leg receiving ybody Npo'rtionl having relatively opposed'longitudinally l extending pocltetsjformed in theopposite ends thereof,y -co-nnecting'meansonthe adjacent ends of the derrick leg sections adapted 'to yhave slidableengagementwith saidvpocliets'upon y longitudinal introductioniot thederrick leg section into theibody-portion,means `on the isos*` l body vportion engageable with said cionnect-l adapted for connectionwith tensioning deingineaiis-dfor locking the same againstv movement longitudinally of .the body portion, Lat times,ineans on the body portion vices, and yreleg receivinggnieans oiivsaid body: portion@ a 5. A derriek leg bracket coii'iprising inconnbination with longitudinally aligned derrick 'leg sections, a tubular body portion having longitudinally disposed -and marginallyy openingp'pockets formed in the opposite'ex- .bmw-p.. 1

portion, transversely arranged releg receivf ing means lintegralWith the Vbody portion `and the opposite ends of said plates, certain,

of the Y sides of ,said f arms having cradle like `releg receivingportions therein, and releg engaging and clamping-A meansdetacli'ably engaged With saidi arms.

f In witnessavhereof'l*haveliereunto seti hand. Y

tremities thereof, the opposite ends of s aid 'i body portion being jfflanged, .connecting 'means on the adjacent end ofthe derrick leg ksections receivable in said pocliets, portions of said` connecting means adapted to have 'abutting' Vengagement'With said" flanges whereby toprevent longitudinal movement of said connecting means and the derrickleg sections at times, means on the body lportion adapted for connection with tensioning devices, and releg receiving ineans-y on said"l body portion. 1

6. A derrick leg bracket coinpiiising in combination-l vvith longitudinally Y opposed derricl legsections, a tubular leg receiving bodyl portion hav-ing pairs-of;:longitudinally disposed and marginally yopening pockets forine'diinf. the opposite extremities of the l saine, the opposite longitud-inalen'ds of said bod-Iy .portion being flanged, connecting meansjen'gaged through .the adjacent ends of saidf derrick leg(sectionsadaptedto be slidably engaged in said pockets With longitudinall introduction of the adjac'entends of said Y derrick leg' sectionsinto the-"tubular body, l

portions of said connecting means:having-y abutting engagement with portions of saidy flanged lends of theftubular body, at times,

`relatively angularly arranged plates integral with and disposed longitudinally 'of the p bodyportion, releg receivingfmeans integral withv the l,bodyportion and With the oppol site endso .said plates and arranged 'in lon'itudi'nall o )nosed relation between said 'L n n plates, and releg engaging and clamping. means detachably Vengaged, with portions or said arms." v

7.l Aderrickf leg Combination with longitudinally opposed derrick leg sections, 'a tnbular'body portion havinglpairs of longitudinally 'disposed niar- Vginally opening pockets formed tlierein,ltlie lopposite' ends of said bodyfportion'being flanged, connecting means engaged :through i tlieadjacent ends of said'derrickleg section` V adaptedto be slidably received in ksaid poele A ets `Witl'ilongitudinal introduction of said f -sectionsintonthe *tubular body portion, poi'-y tions 4oit said connecting-means having abut tinv en ao'enient with the ianofed on osite b 2D C L ends ofthe body portion',- at times, relatively Vrightl singularlyv arranged yplates integral c5V With and disposed longitudinally ofthe body bracket comprising in i ii5A 

